Removable utility basket for chair

ABSTRACT

A support assembly for supporting articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly includes a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, and a plurality of fasteners configured to be spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion configured to extend about less than a majority of a circumference of a first leg of the chair assembly, where a weight of the support member is configured to keep the first portion of each fastener engaged with the first leg, and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to prevent the first portion from being disengaged from about the first leg.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/152,047, filed on Feb. 22, 2021, entitled “REMOVABLE UTILITY BASKET FOR CHAIR,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a utility basket supported by a chair and configured to support articles such as books, book bags, backpacks and the like, and a storage arrangement that utilizes the support assembly between various furniture components.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the embodiments disclosed herein may include a support assembly for supporting articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly, the support assembly including a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, and a plurality of fasteners configured to be spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion configured to extend about less than a majority of a circumference of a first leg of the chair assembly, where a weight of the support member is configured to keep the first portion of each fastener engaged with the first leg, and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to prevent the first portion from being disengaged from about the first leg.

Another aspect of the embodiments disclosed herein may further or alternatively include a storage arrangement that includes a tray member including a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall that cooperate to define an interior storage space, a first support arrangement, and a second support arrangement, a chair assembly including a seat for supporting a seated user and a plurality of legs configured to support the seat above a floor surface, and a support assembly. The support assembly may include a support member including a first engagement portion for receiving the first support portion of the tray member, thereby supporting the tray member from the support member, and at least one fastener engaging at least one of the plurality of leg members of the chair assembly, thereby supporting the support assembly from the chair assembly. The storage arrangement may further include a furniture assembly separate from the chair assembly and that includes a second engagement portion configured to receive the second support portion of the tray member, thereby supporting the tray member from the furniture assembly, and such that the tray member may alternatively be supported by the chair assembly and the furniture assembly.

Yet another aspect of the embodiments disclosed herein may further or alternatively include a support assembly for supporting articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly, the support assembly including a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, and a plurality of fasteners configured to be spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion configured to extend about at least a portion of a leg of a plurality of legs of the chair assembly, wherein a weight of the support member is configured to keep the first portion of each fastener engaged with the first leg and the first portion of each fastener is configured to be disengaged from the leg by moving the first portion in a vertical direction with respect to the leg, and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to prevent the first portion from being disengaged from about the first leg.

Still yet another aspect of the embodiments disclosed herein may further or alternatively include a method for attaching a support assembly configured to support articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly to the chair assembly, the method including providing a chair assembly comprising a seat configured to support a seated user and a plurality of legs configured to support the seat above a floor surface, providing a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, providing a plurality of fasteners spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion and a second portion, and positioning the support member between the seat and the floor surface. The method further includes pivoting the first portion of the fastener with respect to the support member such that the first portion extends about one of the legs of the chair assembly, and engaging the second portion of the fastener with the first portion of the fastener such that the second portion of the fastener prevents the first portion of the fastener from being disengaged from the leg.

Another aspect of the embodiments disclosed herein may further or alternatively include a method for attaching a support assembly configured to support articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly to the chair assembly, the method including providing a chair assembly comprising a seat configured to support a seated user and a plurality of legs configured to support the seat above a floor surface, providing a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, and providing a plurality of fasteners spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion and a second portion. The method further includes positioning the support member between the seat and the floor surface, moving the first portion of a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners in a vertical direction until the first portion extends about one of the legs of the chair assembly, rotating the support member with respect to the seat of the chair assembly until the first portion of a second fastener of the plurality of fasteners extends about another of the legs, and engaging the second portion of the fastener with the first portion of the fastener such that the second portion of the fastener prevents the first portion of the fastener from being disengaged from the leg.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the embodiments described herein will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair assembly and a support assembly supported from a plurality of legs of the chair assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the chair assembly and the support assembly;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chair assembly and the support assembly;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the chair assembly and the support assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the support assembly;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fastener or coupler assembly and of the area VI, FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the chair assembly and the support assembly, with the support assembly supporting a tray therein;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the tray supported from the support assembly;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the support assembly supporting the tray;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a desk assembly supporting the tray;

FIG. 11 is a partial front elevational view of the desk assembly supporting the tray;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a plurality of trays supported within a mobile storage assembly; and

FIG. 13 is a partial enlarged elevational view of the plurality of trays supported within the mobile storage assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIGS. 1-3. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The reference numeral 10 (FIGS. 1-3) generally designates a chair assembly that includes a shell member 12 supported above a floor surface 14 by a leg assembly 16, and a support assembly 18 supported from the leg assembly 16 and configured to support articles such as books, book bags, backpacks, lunch boxes/bags, and the like, below the shell member 12 and above the floor surface 14.

In an illustrated example, the shell member 12 includes a seat or seat portion 22 configured to support a seated user thereon, and a back or back portion 24 extending vertically upward from the seat portion 22. The seat portion 22 is generally configured to be parallel to the plane of the floor surface 14 and spaced above the floor surface 14 for a person to sit on, thereby creating a space between the floor surface 14 and the seat portion 22 of the shell member 12.

The leg assembly 16 includes a U-shaped front leg member 26 having a pair of forwardly angled legs 27, and a rear leg member 28 having a pair of rearwardly angled legs 29. Each of the legs 27, 29 have a circular cross-sectional configuration, although other cross-sectional configurations may also be utilized.

The support assembly 18 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is configured to be retained in the space between the floor surface 14 and the seat portion 22, and includes a support member or basket 30 defined by a plurality of longitudinal rod members 32 and lateral rod members 34 that cooperate to define a bottom wall 35 having an upper surface 36, a bottom surface 38 and a plurality of apertures 40 extending between the upper surface 36 and the bottom surface 38. The support member 30 further includes a plurality of side walls 42, 44, 46, 48, where the bottom wall 35 and the sidewalls 42, 44, 46, 48 cooperate to define an interior space or recess 50. In the illustrated example, each end of the lateral rod members 34 include an upwardly turned end 52 to which a longitudinally extending side wall rod 54 is attached so as to define each of the side walls 44, 48, while each end of the longitudinal members 32 include an upwardly bent portion 56 that define the side walls 42, 46. Each end of the lateral rod members 34 and each end of the side wall rods 54 each include a hook or loop 58, as further described below.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the support assembly 18 further includes a plurality of fasteners or couplers 60 which support the support member 30 from the plurality of legs 27, 29. In the illustrated example, each fastener 60 includes a U-shaped first portion 62, where a forward pair of the fasteners 60 and a rearward pair of the fasteners 60 may be respectively fixedly coupled to one another via connecting rods 64 extending therebetween, wherein in illustrative embodiments, the connecting rods 64 may be pivotably received within the hooks 58 of the longitudinal members 32 and the side wall rods 54 such that the fasteners 60 are pivotable with respect to the support member 30. Each fastener 60 may further include first and second U-shaped washers 66, 68 and a bolt 70 that extends through the first U-shaped washer 66, and is threadably received within the second U-shaped washer 68.

In other embodiments, the fasteners 60 may be fixed relative to the support member 30. Specifically, the connecting rod 64 may extend between the forward pair of fasteners 60 and the second connecting rod 64 may extend between the rearward pair of fasteners 60, with the connecting rods 64 not being pivotable with respect to the support member 30. Each fastener 60 may further include the first and second U-shaped washers 66, 68 and the bolt 70 that extends through the first U-shaped washer 66, and is threadably received within the second U-shaped washer 68.

In assembly, the support assembly 18 is coupled with the associated chair assembly 10 by positioning the support member 30 beneath the seat 22 of the shell member 12 at an elevational height that is above the final secured height of the support member as shown in FIGS. 1-3. In one embodiment, the U-shaped first portion 62 of rotatable fasteners 60 are then rotated until at least partially positioned about the legs 27, 29. The U-shaped first portion 62 may be configured to extend about a majority but less than complete circumference of the associated legs 27, 29, 180° about a circumference of the leg, or less than 180° about a circumference of the leg. The support assembly 18 is then angled toward and/or lowered in a vertical direction until the support assembly 18 is supported from the legs 27, 29 via the U-shaped first portion 62 of each of the fasteners 60. Each bolt 70 is then extended through the first U-shaped washer 66, through the U-shaped first portion 62 of the fasteners 60 and threadably received into the second U-shaped washer 68, thereby preventing the fasteners 60 from being uncoupled or from removed about the legs 27, 29. It is noted that the fasteners 60 assist to provide a stable and uniform-height support of the support assembly 18 from the leg assembly 16. In illustrative embodiments, stabilization and uniform height are provided in part by coupling to the chair assembly 10 using the pivoting movement of the pairs of the fasteners 60 via the connecting rods 64. In an alternative embodiment, the support member 30 may be positioned beneath the seat portion 22 at an angle to the plane of the floor surface 14 and/or the seat portion 22, such that two of the fasteners 60 extend through the opening in the U-shaped front leg member 26 to be positioned along the inner edges of the forwardly angled legs 27, and the other two fasteners 60 extend through the opening in the rear leg member 28 to be positioned along the inner edges of the rearwardly angled legs 29.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, the recess or interior space 50 of the support member 30 may be configured to receive a tray 72 therein. In the illustrated example, the tray 72 includes a bottom wall 74 and a plurality of side walls 76 that cooperate to define an interior space 78. In the illustrated example, the recess 50 of the support member 30 is configured to receive the bottom wall 74 and a portion of the side walls 76 of the tray 72, thereby supporting the tray 72 from the support assembly 18 and prevent significant horizontal movement of the tray 72 within the recess 50. Each tray 72 further includes rails or rail members 80 extending outwardly from an upper edge of at least two oppositely positioned side walls of the side walls 76. The rail members 80 are configured to alternatively support the tray 72 from other articles of furniture, such as a desk or table assembly 82 (FIGS. 10 and 11) and a mobile storage assembly 84 (FIGS. 12 and 13). As best illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the desk assembly 82 includes a pair of slide assemblies 86 supported from a lower surface 88 of a worksurface 90, where the slide assemblies 86 are configured to support the tray 72 between a retracted position A and an extended position B. As best illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the mobile storage assembly 84 includes a top wall 92, a bottom wall 94, a pair of side walls 95 and rear wall 98 the cooperate to define a storage space 100. The storage space may be separated by a plurality of interior walls 102, and the overall mobile storage assembly 84 may be supported above a floor surface by a plurality of casters or wheels 104. The mobile storage assembly 84 may further include a plurality of slide assemblies 86 supported within the storage space 102 by the side walls 96 and/or the interior walls 102, where the slide assemblies 106 are configured to support the trays 72 between a retracted position C and an extended position D. The trays 72 are thus configured to be alternatively supported within the chair assembly 10 by the support assembly 18, within the desk assembly 82 by the slide assemblies 86, and the mobile storage assembly 84 by the slide assemblies 106.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments as disclosed herein without departing from the concepts as disclosed herein, and that these modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A support assembly for supporting articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly, the support assembly comprising: a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, a bottom surface opposite the upper surface; and a plurality of fasteners configured to be spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion configured to extend about less than a majority of a circumference of a leg of a plurality of legs of the chair assembly, where a weight of the support member is configured to keep the first portion of each fastener engaged with the leg, and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to prevent the first portion from being disengaged from about the leg.
 2. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion is U-shaped.
 3. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion is configured to cooperate with the first portion to extend completely about the circumference of the leg.
 4. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion includes a bolt.
 5. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion extends about less than or equal to 180° of the circumference of the leg.
 6. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the support member is configured to be located directly between a first leg and a second leg of the plurality of legs of the chair, where the first and second legs of the chair are positioned on a same side of the chair.
 7. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member includes at least one aperture extending between the upper surface and the bottom surface.
 8. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a basket.
 9. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises an upwardly-opening recess for receiving the articles therein.
 10. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of each fastener is pivotable with respect to the support member.
 11. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners includes a pair of fasteners that are fixed with respect to one another.
 12. A chair assembly, comprising: the support assembly of claim 1; a seat for supporting a seated user; and a plurality of legs including a first leg and a second leg each configured to support the seat above a floor surface.
 13. A storage arrangement, comprising: a tray member, comprising: a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall that cooperate to define an interior storage space; a first support arrangement; and a second support arrangement; a chair assembly, comprising: a seat for supporting a seated user; a plurality of legs configured to support the seat above a floor surface; and a support assembly, comprising: a support member including a first engagement portion for receiving the first support portion of the tray member, thereby supporting the tray member from the support member; and at least one fastener engaging at least one of the plurality of leg members of the chair assembly, thereby supporting the support assembly from the chair assembly; and a furniture assembly separate from the chair assembly and that includes a second engagement portion configured to receive the second support portion of the tray member, thereby supporting the tray member from the furniture assembly, and such that the tray member may alternatively be supported by the chair assembly and the furniture assembly.
 14. The storage arrangement of claim 13, wherein the first support arrangement of the tray member includes the bottom wall of the tray member, and wherein the first engagement portion of the support member of the support assembly includes an upwardly-opening aperture configured to receive the bottom wall of the tray member therein.
 15. The storage arrangement of claim 13, wherein the second support arrangement of the tray member includes a pair of rails extending outwardly from a pair of sidewalls of the plurality of sidewall of the tray member, and wherein the second engagement portion of the furniture assembly includes a pair of rail supports configured to receive the rails of the tray member.
 16. The storage arrangement of claim 15, wherein the furniture assembly includes a pair of slide assemblies that include the pair of rail supports, and wherein the slide assemblies are configured so support the tray member between a retracted position and an extended position.
 17. The storage arrangement of claim 13, wherein the furniture assembly includes a storage cabinet.
 18. The storage arrangement of claim 13, wherein the at least one fastener includes a plurality of fasteners each including a first portion configured to extend about less than a majority of a circumference of a first leg of the plurality of legs of the chair assembly, where a weight of the support member is configured to keep the first portion of the fastener engaged with the first leg, and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to prevent the first portion from being disengaged from about the first leg.
 19. The storage arrangement of claim 18, wherein the second portion cooperates with the first portion to extend completely about the circumference of the first leg.
 20. The storage arrangement of claim 18, wherein the first portion extends about less than or equal to 180° of the circumference of the first leg.
 21. The storage arrangement of claim 18, wherein the first portion of each fastener is pivotable with respect to the support member.
 22. The storage arrangement of claim 18, wherein the plurality of fasteners includes a pair of fasteners that are fixed with respect to one another.
 23. The storage arrangement of claim 13, wherein the support member includes at least one aperture extending between an upper surface and a bottom surface of the support member.
 24. The storage arrangement of claim 13, wherein the support member comprises a basket.
 25. A support assembly for supporting articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly, the support assembly comprising: a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface; and a plurality of fasteners configured to be spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion configured to extend about at least a portion of a leg of a plurality of legs of the chair assembly, wherein a weight of the support member is configured to keep the first portion of each fastener engaged with the first leg and the first portion of each fastener is configured to be disengaged from the leg by moving the first portion in a vertical direction with respect to the leg, and a second portion that is configured to cooperate with the first portion to prevent the first portion from being disengaged from about the first leg.
 26. A method for attaching a support assembly configured to support articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly to the chair assembly, the method comprising: providing a chair assembly comprising a seat configured to support a seated user and a plurality of legs configured to support the seat above a floor surface; providing a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface; providing a plurality of fasteners spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion and a second portion; positioning the support member between the seat and the floor surface; pivoting the first portion of the fastener with respect to the support member such that the first portion extends about one of the legs of the chair assembly; and engaging the second portion of the fastener with the first portion of the fastener such that the second portion of the fastener prevents the first portion of the fastener from being disengaged from the leg.
 27. A method for attaching a support assembly configured to support articles beneath a seat of a chair assembly to the chair assembly, the method comprising: providing a chair assembly comprising a seat configured to support a seated user and a plurality of legs configured to support the seat above a floor surface; providing a support member including an upper surface configured to support an article thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the upper surface; providing a plurality of fasteners spaced about a periphery of the support member from one another, each fastener including a first portion and a second portion; positioning the support member between the seat and the floor surface; moving the first portion of a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners in a vertical direction until the first portion extends about one of the legs of the chair assembly; rotating the support member with respect to the seat of the chair assembly until the first portion of a second fastener of the plurality of fasteners extends about another of the legs; and engaging the second portion of the fastener with the first portion of the fastener such that the second portion of the fastener prevents the first portion of the fastener from being disengaged from the leg. 